Short communication: Purification and properties of a glucose-forming amylase of Lactobacillus brevis.

An extracellular glucose-forming amylase was produced by Lactobacillus brevis isolated from 'Kagasok tea'. The enzyme was purified 70-fold and had optimal activity at 55°C and pH 6.5. Its K m value for starch was 0.27 mg ml(-1) and its M r was approx. 75,900 Da. The activity of the enzyme was enhanced by Ca(2+), Mg(2+), Na(+) or K(+) and inhibited by EDTA, KCN, citric acid and L-cysteine.